Category: News

Welcome to the stage

Meet the Capitol Center’s new executive director

The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord will welcome its new executive director, Salvatore Prizio, on Monday, Nov. 29. Prizio talked about what he brings to the position and his short- and long-term goals for the performing arts venue.

What is your background in this kind of work?

I went to Northeastern University as a music industry major. I spent the better part of 10 years in New York City, working in the record business and touring and playing with my own bands. Then I moved to upstate New York with my wife and we opened a place called Bread and Jam, a 100- to 150-person coffee house where we had live music four nights a week. I had that for about two years, but it was during the Great Recession and business wasn’t as good as I hoped. … I went to [work at] the College of Saint Rose for about six years, running the Massry Center for the Arts, a 400-seat recital hall and performing arts center venue. I loved it there, and we did fantastic things with that space, but I couldn’t grow anymore. I started … doing programming for Proctor’s Collaborative, which has venues all over the Capital Region [of the U.S.] and a contract with Rivers Casino, booking their talent. … I was also able to expand my skills and do some work on the logistical side of things, like getting venues up and running, doing support work for the board, supporting fundraising teams, that sort of stuff. After five years there, I really wanted to take the next step to become an executive director. When the search firm [informed] me about the opportunity at the Capitol Center, I thought it was the right-sized organization and right time for me to step into that role.

What will your job entail?

At an organization of this size, the executive director does a bit of everything. I’ll be working with our programming person to make sure our programming is meeting our goals and objectives from a mission standpoint, while also making sure we’re being fiscally responsible. I’ll oversee budgets; implement or make changes to the strategic plan that’s in place; work with the board on a daily basis; check in with our ops team and make sure we have proper staffing.

What do you expect to be some of the biggest challenges?

One of the major issues CCA and all performing arts centers are facing now is getting back on their feet [financially]. They have a lot of fiscal issues from being shut down for months. … How do you balance expanding [programming] … while making sure you’re not being irresponsible from a budgetary standpoint? … The other piece of that is, like most businesses, the Capitol Center had to lay off a lot of staff, and now getting qualified staff back is a huge challenge. … Then, there’s people’s reticence to get back [out]. We have to help alleviate that through safety measures, making sure people feel comfortable again. … Once I get to understand the organization more, I’m going to develop strategies for the best practices moving forward.

What are some of your immediate goals?

Coming from upstate New York to a city like Concord, there are going to be differences — not major differences, but nuances — so my first goal is to really understand those differences. Then there are some nuts-and-bolts things … like updating the website … and getting our staffing back up to where it needs to be.

What are some of your long-term goals?

Most people think of a performing arts center as a place with four walls, seats and a stage, where you go to experience art, whether it’s comedy, music, theater or whatever. What I really want to do is break down those barriers of what a typical performing arts center is … and start thinking about CCA as more of a presenter/promoter. If there are communities that can’t get into our space, whether it’s because of mobility issues or economic challenges or anything like that, we want to be able to present [programming for them] outside of our buildings — things like street fairs, block parties and festivals and [events] at their community centers. … While researching this position, I found out New Hampshire is home to many new Americans, so I’m excited to find out who those communities are and have conversations with them about what types of art would resonate best within their communities. … During the pandemic, many performing arts centers were able to pivot to digital media so they could still reach their patrons, and that’s going to be a long-term component of performing arts centers. I can see the Capitol Center having more multimedia-kind of presentations; that’s going to be critical for us down the road. It’s a way we can reach a wider audience and allow people who might not have the opportunity to get to our physical space, like some of the folks living in senior centers, for example, to experience art from the comfort of their own home.

What unique qualities or perspectives do you bring to this position?

I bring enthusiasm, openness, acceptance and a willingness to stretch the boundaries of what people think about art. Inclusiveness is a huge thing I want to emphasize; I want everyone to know there’s a seat for them here. In this world where everything has become so polarized, I feel art is something that can always bring us together. I take that responsibility very seriously, but with a sense of joy.

Featured photo: Salvatore Prizio. Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 21/11/18

Covid-19 update As of Nov 8 As of Nov 15
Total cases statewide 141,317 146,834
Total current infections statewide 5,164 6,295
Total deaths statewide 1,599 1,630
New cases 4,562 (Nov. 2 to Nov. 8) 5,517 (Nov. 9 to Nov. 15)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 1,405 1,925
Current infections: Merrimack County 562 681
Current infections: Rockingham County 915 1,150
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on Nov. 10, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire averaged about 650 new cases of Covid-19 per day over the previous week. Test-positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus have all continued to climb in recent weeks. “We are … seeing an increasing number of deaths reported from long-term care facilities, although the majority of deaths continue to be in our community setting,” he said. Chan renewed the state’s recommendations for residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, adding the reminder that kids ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive their first shot. “We continue to work with our Public Health Networks to set up a combination of both school-based clinics [and] community-based pediatric vaccination clinics to support the vaccination efforts that are ongoing in our communities,” Chan said.

Gov. Chris Sununu also commented on the state Executive Council’s unanimous vote earlier that day to accept $22.4 million in federal Covid relief funds. “The vote … will definitely help speed up that distribution process, which is a good thing for all of our citizens, putting funding behind the efforts and help battle the pandemic,” Sununu said during the press conference.

As of Nov. 15 there were 6,295 active infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire, up by more than 1,000 from just a week ago, with 260 current hospitalizations statewide. All 10 counties remain at substantial levels of community transmission.

Renting resolutions

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch has launched a new free mediation service to help landlords and tenants resolve conflicts before resorting to filing an eviction case in court. According to a press release, the “eviction diversion mediation program” is supported by federal funds through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and administered by the Office of Mediation and Arbitration and the New Hampshire Circuit Court. To use the service, a residential landlord or tenant can request a remote mediation session with a neutral third-party mediator, who will assist the parties in talking through issues, such as paying back rent or applying for rental assistance, and drafting a contract of agreement to prevent an eviction case from being filed. “When parties can resolve a dispute without filing an eviction, everyone wins,” Circuit Court Administrative Judge David King said in the release. “Landlords avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of going to court, tenants avoid the black mark of an eviction case on their records, and the courts see fewer new cases.”

Anti-discrimination webpage

According to a press release, a new webpage launched by the New Hampshire Department of Education will help “ensure that students and educators are free from discrimination, and that they have the opportunity to learn and teach in a safe environment.” The release said the website supports the New Hampshire Commission on Human Rights by giving parents an online site to report concerns that their child may have been discriminated against. Parents, guardians and teachers can submit a public education intake questionnaire that will be reviewed by a Commission intake coordinator to determine if there are grounds to file a formal complaint.

Education Freedom accounts

More than 1,600 children in New Hampshire have been approved for Education Freedom Accounts, and the first round of funding from the Children’s Scholarship Fund NH is being made available to eligible families this month. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the grants, which total $8,096,903, give families access to resources like customized learning, tutoring services, career schools, technical schools, home schooling, and non-public and private schools. Among the 1,635 participants, 88 are special education students, 81 are English Language Learners and 879 are eligible for free and reduced lunches. Manchester has the largest number of families enrolled throughout the state, with 166 students receiving Education Freedom Accounts, followed by Nashua with 64 students enrolled, Rochester with 52 students, Laconia with 52 and Concord with 46.

Funds for farmers

New Hampshire will receive more than $1.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support farmers in the state, according to a Nov. 2 press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Of those funds, $749,856 will be awarded to Land for Good in Keene through USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which helps beginner farmers develop the knowledge and skills to successfully acquire land for farming. Five hundred thousand dollars has been allocated through USDA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to facilitate mental health services for farmers in the state. “Granite State farmers face a myriad of unpredictable and uncontrollable challenges that can create or exacerbate stress, anxiety and trauma,” Shaheen said in the release. “Now more than ever, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to address these mental health challenges must be a top priority.”

Affordable housing

The New Hampshire Housing Board has approved funding for three new multi-family affordable housing developments to be built in Concord, Newport and Rochester, providing a total of 83 units to help meet the need for more affordable rental housing in the state. According to a press release, the Concord development, Penacook Landing II, is a second-phase expansion of a new development on a brownfield property that was previously owned by the city. Thirty-four general occupancy units were created in Phase I; Phase II will build 20 additional general occupancy units, with a small portion of the site to be used for a public park. Funding for the housing developments is allocated through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits About 95 percent of publicly funded workforce housing in New Hampshire is LIHTC-funded, according to the release, and the Housing Board expects to allocate more LIHTC funds for additional housing developments by the end of the year.

NewDEAL

Last week Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig was chosen as one of 20 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network of state and local elected officials chosen from more than 1,650 nominations over its decade-long history. According to a press release, the nearly 200 members “work to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities” and are currently supporting each other in addressing the challenges created by the pandemic.

The national Choose Love wellness tour stopped at Gill Stadium in Manchester on Nov. 13, a free event promoting mental health for kids and adults and offering “Choose Love” lessons and strategies, plus activities, food, vendors and performances. According to a press release, the tour is a response to the increase in stress and anxiety that has resulted from the pandemic.

The Salem Police Department reported last week the community has seen an increase in reported car thefts and break-ins. According to a press release, several motor vehicles had been broken into and others were stolen over the course of a few nights last week. The investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Salem police at 893-1911.

The Nashua Public Library is celebrating 50 years at its Court Street home, having moved from the Hunt Memorial Building at 6 Main St. in 1971. According to a press release, the library is celebrating its anniversary this month and next with a display of photos, posters, furniture, architectural drawings and other memorabilia, and it will have 50th-anniversary library cards for anyone who signs up for a new card or anyone who already has a library card and wants to replace it with a new one.

This Week 21/11/11

Big Events November 11, 2021 and beyond

Thursday, Nov. 11

Today at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.og) veterans and their guests can get a free meal (of up to $15 each) in the Winter Garden Cafe, according to the museum website. Also today, at 11 a.m. and noon the “Looking Together” tour, when a docent focuses on a small number of works, will focus on the “WPA in NH” exhibit. The NH DHHS Mobile Covid-19 Vaccination Van will be set up in the Currier parking lot from 3 to 7 p.m. offering booster shots as well as first shots for adults and children, the website said. And today’s Art After Work, when admission is free to all from 5 to 8 p.m., will feature music by Charlie Chronopoulos.

Saturday, Nov. 13

Catch Warren Miller’s 72nd film Winter Starts Nowtoday at noon and 3 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $30.50 ($55 for VIP tickets). Proceeds from this screening will support Kristen’s Gift Endowed Fund at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. The movie will also screen next week at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

Saturday, Nov. 13

See Matt Carbonello perform a Neil Young Tribute tonight at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Drive in Manchester; tickets.anselm.edu) at 7:30 p.m. with proceeds from the show benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets cost $25.

Saturday, Nov. 13

Another November Saturday, another round of craft fairs.

Today, head to Memorial High School in Manchester for their booster club’s craft sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission costs $1 per person; the fair will feature more than 215 booths and vendors, according to the club’s Facebook page.

The Lil’ Iguana’s Craft Fair & Raffle will run today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nashua North High School. Admission is free and more than 70 crafters and vendors are expected to attend, according to liliguanausa.org.

You can also find a fair at the Eagles Wing Function Hall, 10 Spruce St. in Nashua, sponsored by Bazaar Craft Fairs, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and feature more than 40 crafters and vendors, according to Bazaar Craft Fairs Facebook page. Admission is free.

The United Church of Penacook (at Community Drive and Canal Street) will hold its fair today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and has a list of participating crafters with photos of their items at ucpnh.org.

At St. Kathryn Parish (4 Dracut Road in Hudson), the Christmas Bazaar and Penny Sale will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 14. The event will include raffles, sales of theme baskets, baked goods and an appearance by Santa, according to stkathryns.org.

Also on Sunday, Nov. 14, head to the Bedford High School for the Bedford High School Handmade Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring local artists and artisans, according to the group’s Facebook page.

Save the Date! Nov. 19

The Jamantics — Masceo Williams, Freeland Hubbard, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, Eric Reingold and Lucas Gallo — will reunite Friday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $25 for reserved balcony seating (plust fees).

Featured photo: The Jamantics. Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 21/11/11

Badges battle it out

The first Inferno of the Badges, a fundraiser and fitness challenge that will have police, fire, corrections and military personnel compete for a title and to help a good cause, is looking for more teams to make the inaugural event a success. Teams of five will perform CrossFit-type exercises, and the one with the best time gets to choose the charity that the event’s proceeds will be donated to. The Inferno is a community effort: CrossFit of New Hampshire and the Manchester Police Department have helped organize it, McIntyre is providing its facilities for free, McHugh Funeral Home in Manchester is a sponsor, and Messy Mike’s Barbecue from Derry is providing free lunch to competitors and volunteers.

Score: +1

Comment: Though this first Inferno of the Badges, happening Nov. 17, is just for police, fire, corrections and military personnel, if it’s successful it will become an annual event that the public will be invited to watch, according to Bibiana Rummler of McHugh Funeral Home.

Something fishy

Elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been detected in fish tissue samples in five lakes, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. There are now new and more restrictive fish consumption limits for those lakes: Beaver Lake in Derry, Robinson Pond in Hudson, Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack, Canobie Lake in Salem and Cobbetts Pond in Windham. According to the release, the mercury-based statewide guideline of fish consumption for most freshwater fish is one meal per month for young children and pregnant woman and four per month for adults and children 7 years old or older; in comparison, many of the recommended guidelines for fish consumption in these lakes are more restrictive. The levels of PFOS in Robinson and Horseshoe ponds, for example, are high enough that kids younger than 7 should not eat any amount of any freshwater fish taken from those water bodies.

Score: -1

Comment: NHDES pointed out in the release that there is no known risk to catching and handling these fish, so catch-and-release fishing is not impacted.

Three more cases of Jamestown Canyon virus

Three adults have tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus, a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The adults are from Loudon, Pittsfield and Rumney, and they are the second, third and fourth detections of the virus in the state this season. According to the release, the adults from Rumney and Pittsfield were hospitalized with neurological symptoms but are now recovering at home, and the person from Loudon was not hospitalized and is in good health.

Score: -1

Comment: “It is important to remember the season of mosquitos is longer than just the summer months. Mosquitos can continue to transmit infections like Jamestown Canyon Virus until there is a mosquito-killing hard frost,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire State Epidemiologist, said in the release.

Letter a scam

A consumer alert has been issued by the Attorney General’s Office after scammers sent a fraudulent letter purporting to be from the Office to a New Hampshire resident. According to a press release, it appears to be issued on Attorney General’s Office official letterhead and has a forged signature from the New Hampshire’s Deputy Attorney General. It claims the recipient’s identity has been used in connection with a purchase through an online retailer and warns that any of the accounts linked with the resident’s Social Security number will be shut down.

Score: -1

Comment: The resident called the number in the letter and was asked to buy gift cards from a local retailer and send photos of the gift card numbers, and to send cash through the mail with personal identifying information, the release said.

QOL score: 77

Net change: -2

QOL this week: 75

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at [email protected].

That was the week that was

Another week, a few more scandals to report on including in the NHL, with the Phoenix Suns, no real accountability for the Washington Football Team’s workplace abuse scandal and the Aaron Rodgers lies, there’s plenty of ammo for another World’s Gone Mad column. But we’ll keep it to the good, the bad and the ugly from the current or past field of play.  

News Item: Pats Update

(1) The 24-6 win over Carolina on Sunday moved the 5-4 Patriots into a six-team scrum for an AFC wild card playoff spot, as well as drawing them to a half game behind Buffalo for first place in the East. That makes Sunday’s game with the 5-4 Browns like a playoff game, where a win moves them a game ahead of Cleveland in the playoff race and gives them the tie-breaker if they finish with the same record to make it actually worth two wins, like their recent win over the Chargers was as well. (2) Here are two questions regarding pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr. after he was dumped by Cleveland. With Cleveland also a contender, what makes anyone think he’ll behave any better here than in NY or Cleveland? And regarding the Randy Moss comparison, Moss came to a team with a three-time SB winning quarterback, not an impressionable-kid nine games into his rookie year. So do you want a serial malcontent yacking in his ear if things don’t go OBJ’s way? (3) Despite losingtheir QB for good, the Saints passed on signing the unemployed Cam Newton.

News Item:Not So Smart Marcus  

Things have not started great for your Boston Celtics. There have been frustrating close-but-no-cigar losses to New York and Washington, mixed in with awful non-efforts in home court blowouts by Toronto and Chicago. Then after getting blown out by Chicago after leading by 19 in the third quarter, Marcus Smart sounded off correctly (in frustration) that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to share the ball more. But it’s hard to escape the irony of him complaining about people not giving up the ball, when everyone in Celtic Nation wants him to stop taking all his plain stupid threes. Yes I know his buzzer three sent the opener vs. NY to OT, but overall he’s been awful. Best expressed by Tony Massarotti on the Sports Hub when he said of a possible trade involving shooting impaired Ben Simmons and Smart last summer, “I’d rather have a guy who can’t shoot and knows it than a guy who can’t shoot and thinks he can.” Amen to that. Though most would prefer Smart just get a clue about what a bad shot is and gain the restraint not to take them. However, it should be noted that after his complaints the C’s won two straight in Florida before (not so) Smart’s foul on Luka Doncic that gave him five extra seconds to beat them, which he did at the buzzer.   

News Item:The Big Mac Project – Update

While not so great the last two games, Mac Jones is still crushing it in direct competition with the QB’s taken ahead of him in last year’s draft. He leads in every category, including wins. He’s also on pace to throw more for more yards, TD passes and have a better completion percentage than any of the QB’s taken first overall (Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow and Kyler Murray) the last three years did as rookies and has also thrown for over 500 yards more than Jimmy Garoppolo.  

News Item:RemDawg Passes  

Rarely, if ever, has a team’s broadcaster gotten into the DNA of its fan base quite like the late Jerry Remy did with Red Sox Nation. Vince Scully with the Dodgers comes to mind but not all that many others on Remy’s scale. His death was front page news for three days and rarely has anyone gotten that. Especially beyond awful news like the death of Reggie Lewis. It was mixed with sadness, humor and warmth. Not sure how it all came to be, but for me, it was two things. The silliness to downright giddiness at times during the Don Orsillo era and with the Eck and the insight. I don’t suffer broadcast fools easily. To avoid that you have to tell me something I don’t know or make me think. RemDawg did both. RIP.   

News Item:1980s NHC/SNHU Star Cleveland Woods Passes  

He was the most likable person I ever met and it had nothing to do with how great a player Cleveland Woods was at NHC/SNHU, which included being a two-time Division II All American, the New England Player of the Year his senior season, NHC’s all-time leading scorer and only player to accumulate over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. All of which makes him the first guy on my Mt. Rushmore of NHC/SNHU basketball players.   

But forget the player. The grief and affection expressed on Facebook by so many who knew him following his death last week at 56 tells you the impact he had. Always a smile. I don’t think I ever saw him in a bad mood. Even during all the insanity that went on our practices his first few years playing on North River Road. It obviously is a reflection on all the players given the bond shared by the guys he played with. A snapshot of a great thing sports can create when the right people cross paths at the right time. As one of his coaches then, the bond that developed is what I’m most proud of from his time. He wasn’t the only reason, it was the group as a whole, but he certainly was a major contributor to it all. Sadly, he leaves behind his wife Joliette Hall-Woods, two sons and a daughter.  

Rest in peace big fella.   

Doing the numbers

NHDRA names new Taxpayer Services director

After nearly two decades at the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration serving in various roles, Lisa Crowley has stepped into a new position as the director of the Taxpayer Services Division. Crowley offered a look at what the division does and what it’s like to work a job that is “no one’s favorite topic.”

What is the function of the Taxpayer Services Division?

The Taxpayer Services Division is the largest division in the Department of Revenue. Essentially, we’re very much customer service-based. We hold the DRA [Department of Revenue Administration] call center. All of the mail and the money that comes into the department comes right to us, so we process and scan everything in. We also have a Tax Account Reconciliation Group; if there are any issues or errors that come up with the processing that we can identify right off, the Tax Account Reconciliation Group takes care of those so when the other divisions have to use … that information in our system, hopefully most of the bugs are worked out and they can just do their job. We also update our forms … and make any changes that need to be made on the website. Most recently, we’ve been overseeing the production support phase of our most recent system upgrades.

What does your job as director entail?

I oversee essentially everything in this division. … I do whatever I can to support my employees. I manage staffing, making sure we have the right amount of staffing to get our jobs done. … I make sure we’re processing our returns on time and getting the money in the bank on time. I just support the group in whatever way I can, even if that means opening mail during our busy times. That’s part of the job as well — managing from an upper perspective as well as diving in to do the little deeds our current staff may not have time to do.

What is your background in this work?

I’ve been with the department for about 19 years. This was my second job out of college. … I was hired as a tax forms examiner … starting in the Document Processing Division, which is now the Taxpayer Services Division. From there I became a supervisor in the Document Processing Division, worked in an audit group for a little while, and worked in our Municipal and Property Group. Then … I became our hearings manager, managing the department’s appeals. About three and a half years ago I was asked to be the director of our legacy system upgrade project, where we took our 30-year-old tax information management system and upgraded it into new software. It was quite an undertaking. Now that that project is done, I was asked to take over as the director of Taxpayer Services. … I think it’s a natural progression for me to come into this position.

What are some of the biggest challenges for the division right now?

There are a lot of challenges with getting used to this new world we operate in, especially [due to] Covid. … One is the new [software] system. … It comes with a learning curve. We’ve automated a lot of things, which means more mailings need to go out. … We’re also assisting GOFERR, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, with some of their programs. … There’s a lot coming at us, and we’re a very small department of a little less than 150 people … so everyone is working very hard right now to [adjust to] all these changes and overcome these challenges we’ve been faced with.

What do you hope to accomplish as director?

The employees in this division work really hard and do such a great job. … One of my goals … is to make sure they understand the great work they do, and to reward them as much as I possibly can. … Another thing I want to do is support our employees … with our new software. Some of our employees have been here for 10- or 20-plus years, so going into new technology is difficult. I want to make sure they know it’s OK if they aren’t as quick with the new system as they were [with the old one]. We’re all learning this together, and we’ll just keep plugging away until we get there.

What do you enjoy about your work?

It’s funny — when you say you work in taxes, a lot of people are like, ‘Oof,’ and, admittedly, tax isn’t the most exciting thing to work in every day. What I love about the department is the people; we’re a family here, and we support each other. We all understand that maybe tax isn’t the most exciting area to work in, but it’s necessary. … Even though we’re looking at numbers and returns all day and sometimes dealing with unhappy taxpayers, we make the best of it and find ways to make our days happy.

What do you wish people knew about the Taxpayer Services Division?

We [at the division] get it; we all pay taxes, too, and it’s no one’s favorite topic … but we care about our taxpayers. They aren’t just a number. … We want to help them as much as we possibly can. Of course, we have a job to do, and if there are bills that have to go out, unfortunately, [sending them] is part of that job … but I think [taxpayers] can at least come away with a positive feeling about [being] treated [well] and respected.

Featured photo: Lisa Crowley. Courtesy photo.

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